The Capitol Hill seems to be witnessing a quitting spree of sorts this week in the wake of a string of sexual harassment allegations.
After the exit of veteran Democratic Congressman John Conyers on Tuesday, followed by Democratic Senator Al Franken’s statement on Thursday that he would quit ‘in the coming weeks’, Republican Congressman Trent Franks has now announced his plan to resign – this one over an ethics probe into complaints that he had asked two female staffers if they would bear his child as a surrogate mother.
“I want to first make one thing completely clear. I have absolutely never physically intimidated, coerced, or had, or attempted to have, any sexual contact with any member of my congressional staff,” said Franks in a statement that attributed his surrogacy conversations with two former female subordinates to an infertility issue that he and his wife had struggled with for long, resulting in three miscarriages.
Nonetheless, Franks said he would “take full responsibility for the ways I have broached a topic that, unbeknownst to me until very recently, made certain individuals uncomfortable”. Stating that he deeply regrets his discussion of the surrogacy option and process in the workplace, Franks said he would be leaving Congress as of January 31.
A social conservative from Arizona, Franks’ statement came after the House Ethics Committee said it would create a special subcommittee to investigate him for conduct “that constitutes sexual harassment and/or retaliation for opposing sexual harassment”.
Prior to Franks’ announcement on Thursday night, Senator Al Franken, who has been dogged by multiple complaints of sexual harassment in recent weeks, made a statement on the Senate floor earlier in the day that he would resign “in the coming weeks”. A former comedian, Franken had to grapple with allegations of groping and improper advances from at least six women – and a demand for resignation from nearly 30 fellow-Senators.
While calling it “the worst day of my political life”, the Democrat from Minnesota turned his guns on President Donald Trump and Roy Moore, the Republican candidate for a Senate contest in Alabama next week, both of whom have been accused of sexual misconduct.
“I, of all people, am aware that there is some irony in the fact that I am leaving while a man who has bragged on tape about his history of sexual assault sits in the Oval Office, and a man who has repeatedly preyed on young girls campaigns for the Senate with full support of his party,” Franken said.
Before Franken and Franks, octogenarian Conyers, the longest-serving African-American lawmaker in Congress, had quit on Tuesday after allegations of sexual misconduct by several women. Without saying that he was resigning, Conyers said: “I am retiring today. My legacy will continue through my children.” Although it is up to the Michigan Governor to call a special election to fill the vacancy, Conyers said he wanted his son to succeed him in Congress.
Apart from the three lawmaker who have either quit or on their way out, a fourth Congressman, Republican Blake Farenthold from Texas, faces an investigation by the House Ethics Committee for having reportedly used $84,000 in taxpayer funds to settle a sexual harassment claim with his former communications director.